title: Targeting fibroblast-growth-factor-receptor-dependent signaling for cancer therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fibroblast growth factors (FGF) exert a combination of biological effects that contribute to four of the six essential hallmarks of cancer. It is no surprise that FGF-dependent signaling has increasingly moved to the center of cancer therapy research during the past decade. This is illustrated by the large number of publications focusing on various aspects of this theme that have been published in the past 5 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Information from these sources as well as ongoing work from the authors' groups is used to outline the physiological functions of FGF signaling and to highlight how the high oncogenic effects of deregulated FGFs and FGFRs derive from their physiological functions. The biological effect of deregulated FGFR signaling in malignant diseases is described and the current state of therapeutic targeting of FGFR is summarized.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Strategies for targeting FGFR-signaling for cancer therapy are very promising, but need to be carefully developed based on the physiological roles of FGF signaling. Preventive measures may be necessary for protection from FGF-related side effects. Combined targeting of several receptor tyrosine kinases or combination with other therapies may be a useful way of avoiding or ameliorating side effects. FGF-related markers of prognosis and therapy response still need to be investigated.
authors.affiliation: Medical University Vienna, Institute of Cancer Research, Department of Medicine 1, Vienna,Austria.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heinzle
authors.forename: Hedwig
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sutterlüty
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grusch
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Grasl-Kraupp
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Marian
mesh_terms: D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D008024:Ligands; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor